Leadership Educational Achievement Program (LEAP):
WDP believes that those who have experienced oppression first hand are the ones who should lead social justice movements, due to the fact that these individuals are intentionally excluded from decision-making processes that most affect their lives.

WDP creates participatory structures where worker leaders, those directly affected by workplace injustice, serve on the board of directors, and where workers themselves make important campaign and administrative decisions. WDP provides a 10-week leadership development course and periodic advanced trainings for its members. WDP is dedicated to empowering disadvantage low-income Latino immigrants, giving them the tools to advocate for themselves, find better employment opportunities, and succeed academically.

Leadership Development Course: WDP has graduated over 100 workers from its leadership development course. The course uses participatory education techniques to place a central focus on building an analysis of the root causes of social inequality. Participants learn how to analyze their own social position in relation to race, nationality, institutionalized education, sexual orientation, gender, and class, as well as developing important skills in organizing, media, public speaking, and workers rights. Additionally, these workers have continued participating with WDP as community leaders and workers rights advocates.

English as a Second Language Courses:
WDP provides its members with three ESL courses to give them the language skills to advocate for themselves and find better job opportunities. Each course is six-weeks long and is offered at three different levels - beginner, intermediate, and advanced. Courses are offered twice a week. Click here to watch a short video about WDP's ESL courses.

Youth Empowerment:
Each week WDP provides quality after school care and tutoring to Latino youth. WDP offers an innovative holistic approach to education, fostering long-term success for immigrant families.  Workers Defense Project currently conducts weekly ESL classes for its adult constituents, and  half of ESL participants have children living in the U.S. Many ESL participants say they wished to learn English because they want to help their children with schoolwork. Workers Defense Project helps parents achieve this through LEAP by providing a team of college educated students to help Latino children with math, reading and writing school work, and technology throughout the school week. Additionally, youth participants learn special lessons about social justice, and how young people can play an important role in building a more just and equitable society.

Gender Equality:
WDP places a special emphasis on the leadership of women in the organization. WDP’s gender equality principles require that there be equal leadership of women and men in the organization. WDP creates these roles by working with women to develop their skills on organizing, public speaking and advocacy. Additionally, WDP works with male members to build their analysis of how gender equality is a fundamental part of WDP’s mission and work. WDP puts its principles into action, by ensuring shared leadership roles of women and men. Click here to read WDP's gender equality principles in Spanish, written by WDP members.